President Arroyo's statement on Cory Aquino

Here's malacanang's statement regarding Cory's death:

Today, the Philippines lost a national treasure. Cory Aquino helped lead the revolution that restored democracy and rule of law to our nation at a time of great peril.

Our nation will mourn her passing. History was thrust upon her when her noble husband was cut down in the prime of his life as he fought for democracy and rule of law. She picked up the standard from the fallen warrior Ninoy and helped lead our nation to a brighter day.

I am announcing today that we will officially observe a 10-day period of national mourning. Our hearts go out to the family in this hour of grief and sorrow. The nation prays for Cory and her family. - GMANews.TV

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Churches start requiem Masses for Cory Aquino

Cory has been known to be very close with the Catholic Church. Here's a news article on the Church's gratitude to Mrs. Aquino:

From holding healing Masses for the late President Corazon Aquino, Catholic dioceses nationwide will now shift to holding requiem Masses for her, a senior Catholic archbishop said Saturday.

In Manila, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported that the Manila Cathedral held a requiem Mass at 7:30 a.m., with cathedral rector Msgr. Nestor Serbo presiding.

Serbo, in his homily, lauded Mrs. Aquino for fighting for what is right. He likened her life to that of St. John the Baptist, who he said fought for what is right.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said the Masses will also be in gratitude for the contributions of Mrs. Aquino to Philippine democracy.

"Simula ang misa for repose or requiem. Noon ang misa for healing, ngayon for repose naman(The Mass will be for repose or requiem, whereas before we were holding healing Masses for her)," Cruz said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He said Mrs. Aquino is a big gift to the Philippines, having restored democracy in 1986 in the wake of a popular revolt that toppled the Marcos regime.

"She's much bigger in memory so pasalamat tayo sa Diyos at niregaluhan tayo ng isang Cory Aquino (She is now much bigger in memory. Let us thank God for giving us the gift of Cory Aquino)," he said.

"Walang isang archdiocese sa buong Pilipinas na ‘di magmimisa sa kanya, panalangin makapiling siya ng Diyos sa buhay na walang hanggan (No archdiocese in the country will not hold a mass for her, so she will be with God in eternal life)," he added.

Meanwhile, the 40-hour vigil for Mrs. Aquino at the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City continued even after her death before dawn Saturday.

Event organizer Ching Zapanta said more prayers are needed for the former President especially after her passing.

"She (Mrs. Aquino) needs more prayers now that she has passed ... Continuous kami in spite of the fact that she passed away at 3 ... (We will continue with our vigil even though Mrs. Aquino passed away at 3 a.m.)," she said in an interview on dzBB radio.

She said a Mass and a rosary procession was to be held for Mrs. Aquino at about noon.

Zapanta said Mrs. Aquino died a happy death, around her children and holding the rosary.

"She died a happy death around her children holding the rosary. For Cory we don’t stop. The more the prayer is needed that she passed away," she said. - GMANews.TV

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Former President Corazon Aquino, people power icon, passes away

more details on President Cory's death:

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, icon of people power in the Philippines and around the world, passed away at 3:18 a.m. Saturday, her son, Senator Benigno Aquino III, said. The official cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest.

The 76-year-old Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer in March of last year and was treated with chemotherapy. Last May, she underwent surgery to remove parts of her colon and was brought to the Makati Medical Center in June due to loss of appetite. She never left the hospital, as her declining condition sparked a wave of emotion in the country and prompted the widespread appearance of yellow ribbons - on trees, car antennas, and even the Web.

“She would have wanted us to thank each and everyone of you for all your continued love and support. It was her wish for all of us to pray for one another and for our country," Senator Aquino said. "Hinihiling ng aming pamilya ng kaunting panahon para makasama ang aming ina."

He added that other details will be announced later in the day.

Dressed in her signature yellow, Mrs. Aquino rallied the middle class in a series of protests culminating in the 1986 people power revolt that toppled the 20-year regime of strongman Ferdinand Marcos and swept her to the presidency.

She blamed the Marcos government for the assassination of her husband, opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr., who was gunned down at the Manila airport upon returning from exile in 1983.

The former housewife reluctantly took over as Marcos’ main challenger, becoming an international icon of democracy after her victory sparked a wave of pro-democracy movements around the world. Time Magazine named Mrs. Aquino its Woman of the Year in 1986.

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Wiki

From wikipedia:

Maria Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco Aquino (January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a President of the Philippinesand a world-renowned advocate of democracy, peace, women's empowerment, and religious piety. She served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. She was the first female president of the Philippines and wasAsia's first female president.

A self-proclaimed "plain housewife",^[3] Aquino was married to Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. (1932–1983), a leading figure in the political opposition against the autocratic rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. After her husband was assassinated upon his return from exile in the United States on August 21, 1983, Aquino, who had no prior political experience, became a focal point and unifying force of the opposition against Marcos. She was drafted to run against Marcos in the 1986 snap presidential elections. After Marcos was proclaimed the winner despite widespread reports ofelectoral fraud, Aquino was installed as President by the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution.

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